Insiders address potential return of Michael Penix Jr.

A Tuesday change to the Atlanta Falcons' media advisory indicated that backup quarterback Cooper Rush will start over Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. for Atlanta's Week 2 game versus the 0-1 Carolina Panthers this coming Sunday afternoon. 

Tagovailoa is dealing with an oblique injury, while Penix is still working to get back to 100 percent following surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. On Wednesday, NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN shared an update on the Falcons' quarterback situation. 

Michael Penix Jr. may not return until October?

"Tagovailoa's injury, an oblique strain, can linger, which puts his Week 2 status up in the air," Fowler wrote. "...The schedule provides another wrinkle. Atlanta will play on Thursday night in Week 3, so even if Penix is close, that might not be the best week to reacclimate him."

The Falcons play at the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 24. 

In what became a 20-13 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 13, Rush went 12-for-22 passing with 143 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. According to ESPN stats, he posted a league-worst adjusted QBR of 2.6 for Week 1. 

Fowler noted that Rush starting against Carolina "wouldn't be shocking." Meanwhile, Graziano explained why Penix and the Falcons are being so cautious regarding when the 2024 first-round draft pick may return to action. 

Michael Penix Jr. needs "more time" to convince himself "it's OK to go back out there and play?"

"Penix is coming off his third ACL reconstruction, which is a lot of ACL reconstructions," Graziano wrote. "I believe it takes a lot of mental work to convince yourself it's OK to go back out there and play. If Penix needs more time, I'm sure the Falcons will give it to him, though I believe we will see him on the field at some point this season. The Falcons are going to want to know whether he is a real long-term option moving forward."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Falcons as 2.5-point home underdogs against the Panthers. Meanwhile, it sounds like Penix may not play until Atlanta's "Monday Night Football" game at the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 5 at the earliest.